Lawn edging cutter



June 5, 1951 J, HACKNB? 7 2,555,441

LAWN EDGING CUTTER meg Sept. 50} 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 35 INVENTOR. James 63 Hack/76y J. G. HACKNEY LAWN EDGING CUTTER June 5, 1951 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 30, 1947 INVENTOR. (/0076-5 61 Hack/76y Patented June 5, 1951 LAWN EDGING CUTTER James G. Hackney, Fort Worth, Tex. Application September 30, 1947, Serial No.776, 997

This invention relates to a machine for trimming or edging lawns adjacent to sidewalks, curbings, flower beds, and the like.

An important object of the invention is to provide a power. driven lawn edger whichiseasy to operate and simplified in construction.

A further object istoprovide a machine of the above mentioned character which has means to control thedepth to which the rotary edging cutter can penetrate into the ground.

A further object is to provide a machine of theabove mentioned character, wherein theretary cutting element is. mounted close to ground, thus permitting the use of a cutter having a relative small diameter.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description. 7

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure l is a front elevation of the lawn edging machine embodying the invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of the machine showing the rotary cutter reversed,

Figure 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the rotary cutter,

Figure 5 is a central vertical section taken on line 55 of Figure 4, and,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary radial section on line 6-6 of Figure 4.

In the drawings, where for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral I0 designates a horizontal rotatable axle or shaft, carrying rubber tired wheels ll, rigidly mounted upon opposite ends of the shaft, for rotation therewith. The shaft ID is rotatably received in bearings I2, rigidly mounted upon the bottom surface of a horizontal flat plate or platform l3, near the opposite side edges of the same. The shaft It supports the platform I3, and the wheels II are adapted to roll upon the ground.

Rigidly connected to the under side of the platform l3, and disposed laterally inwardly of the bearings l2, are horizontal parallel longitudinal frame members l4. These frame members |4 extend from the front to the rear edges of the platform l3, and at the rear edge of the platform are bent upwardly for upwardly extending and rearwardly inclined parallel frame members l5, rigidly connected at their top ends by means of a horizontal cross bar or handle Hi. The mem- 1 Claim. (Cl. 97227) here. l4 have openings to permit the passage of the rotatable shaft |0 therethrough.

Mounted upon the platform l3, and disposed directly above the axle Ill is a suitable engine l'l, including a transverse horizontal crank shaft extension |8, upon which is mounted a grooved pulley I9, for rotation therewith. The engine I! is arranged near one side of the platform] l3, and the pulley I9 is disposed above the platform, at the transverse center of thesame. A gas tank 20 may be mounted upon the opposite side of the'platform l3, as shown. Afoot lever 2] is provided, and serves as a'crank for starting the engine I'I. l

Adjacent to the front edge of the platform l3, the frame members 4 carry verticaldepending extensions or arms 22, carrying horizontal par allel forwardly projecting arms or runners 23, preferably integral therewith. Suitably rigidly mounted upon the runners 23, and extending laterally of the machine at its forward end is a flat horizontal plate or support 24. Rigidly mounted upon the top surface of the plate 24 are spaced bearings 25, rotatably receivin a transverse horizontal shaft 26. Mounted upon this shaft 26 forjrotation therewith, and disposed beneath'the pulley 19 is a grooved pulley 21. A V-belt 28 engages over the pulleys 211 and IQ, for driving the shaft 26. The shaft 26 is held against axial displacement, by any suitable means, and includes a lateral extension 29 at one end thereof, which extends laterally outwardly beyond the adjacent wheel Mounted upon the outer end of the shaft extension 29, for rotation therewith is a lawn edger or rotary cutter 30.

The cutter 30 comprises a circular cone shaped disc 3|, provided with an outer annular flange 32, disposed vertically in Figure 1. This flange 32 carries a plurality of circumferentially spaced teeth or cutting elements 33, integral therewith, and projecting radially therefrom. The cone shaped disc 3| is provided with diametrically oppositely disposed inclined cutter blades 34, preferably formed integral with the disc. The forward cutting edges of the blades 34 face in opposite directions, Figure 4, so as to cut simultaneously, when the cutter rotates counterclockwise in Figures 2 and 4. The blades 34 extend for substantially the entire inclined width of the cone shaped disc 3|. The cuttin edges of the blades 34 project radially outwardly from the disc 3| to a point near the outside diameter of the flange 32, Figure 5. Slots 35 are provided in the disc 3|, adjacent to the blades 34, and

.3. these slots extend for the entire lengths of the blades. The cutter further comprises a vertical circular side disc 36, carrying a central boss or hub 31, which is internally screw-threaded to receive the outer screw threaded extension 38 of the shaft extension 29. A nut 39 is employed to secure the cutter 30 onto the shaft extension 29. The cutter 30 is open at its side adjacent to the flange 32, As clearly shown in Figures 1 and 3, respectively, the cutter 30 is reversible, and the vertical annular flange 32 may be disposed inwardly or outwardly, as desired. The cuttings pass through the slots 35 and are discharged from the open side of the cutter.

Hingedly connected to the inclined framemernbers [5 near their longitudinal center points is a U-shaped rest or prop, including abottom horizontal transverse member 40, rigidly connected at its opposite ends to upstanding sides or members ll... The members 4| are pivotally connected near their top ends to the members 15, asat 42. The U-shaped prop is normally stowed between the members 15, but maybe swung rearwardly to a position like that shown in broken lines in Figure 2. In this position, while the machine is at rest, the U-shaped prop may engage the ground so th machine cannot pivot over backwards.

In use, the rotary cutter 30 may be mounted upon the shaft in the position shown in Figure l. The wheels I I are shown rolling upon a sidewalk S, or the like, having a vertical edge E. The vertical annularflange 32 is disposed close to the edge E, as shown. The U-shaped prop, including the sides 4| may be swung rearwardly to engage the ground, and the engine IT started by depressing the foot lever 2|. The U-shaped prop may then be swung to the closed or stowed position. The shaft extension I8 is now rotating, driving the pulley l9, belt 28, pulley 21, shaft 26, and cutter 30. ,Thecutter 30 rotates in the direction indicated in Figure 2. The blades 34 and teeth 33 will now edge or cut the sod adjacent to the walk edge E, and form a furrow having an inclined side adjacent to the walk, asthe machine is pushed forwardly by the user. The depth of the furrow which the rotary cutter will cut is regulated by the runners 23, which will engage the ground when the cutter tends to out too deeply. The disposition of the shaft 26 close to the ground level permits the use of a rotary cutter having a relatively small diameter. The cutter may be mounted as shown in Figure 3, with the flange 32 outermost, for edging flower beds, and the like. Since the engine I! is disposed directly over the axle Ill, the balance of the machine is excellent, and it iseasy to manipulate.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described, is to be taken as apreferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention, or the scope of thesubjoined claim.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

Ina machine for edging lawns having a substantially horizontal driven shaft, a hollow unitary metal cutter including a frusto-conical disc, at least two. cutting blades formed integrally thereon and extending radially outwardly thereof, and having oppositely facing cutting edges, the metalforming the blades being struck out of the disc and providing a slot extending through the disc in advance of each of said two cutting blades, an integral peripheral flange on the larger end of said frusto-conical disc and a plurality of widely spaced integral'teeth on said flange projecting radially therefrom.

JAMES G. HACKNEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this'patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

